September 11, 2023 — Port Townsend School District, located in Port Townsend, WA, has adopted Inquiry By Design as its English Language Arts (ELA) core curriculum for grades 6-8 at Blue Heron Middle School. Inquiry By Design’s approach to curriculum development aligns seamlessly with the educational priorities of Port Townsend School District, which aims to prepare each of its students “for meaningful work and engaged citizenship in our diverse and rapidly changing world.”
Victoria Kalscheue, Principal at Blue Heron Middle School, presented the recommendation from the Instructional Materials Committee to the Port Townsend School Board that the district adopt Inquiry by Design’s instructional materials for grades 6-8. During her presentation, Kalscheue said the committee liked the flexibility of Inquiry by Design’s materials, the level of support provided to teachers, and the richness of the reading materials. “Students write every day and there’s a focus on critical thinking and comprehension,” Kalscheue said. “The instructional resources can be customized, so it’s applicable to special education and different grades and reading levels.” On June 22, the school board unanimously moved to approve Inquiry By Design for curriculum adoption.
Port Townsend is one of several Washington school districts to adopt Inquiry By Design’s ELA Curriculum, including Federal Way Public Schools (9-12), Highline Public Schools (6-12), and Renton Public Schools (9-12). The company also continues work with several other West Coast districts, including Bend-La Pine (6-8), North Clackamas (6-8), Tigard-Tualatin (6-12), and Reynolds (6-12) in Oregon, as well as Alameda (3-12), Berkeley Unified School District (6-8), and Cupertino (6-8) in California.
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About Inquiry By Design
Inquiry By Design provides rigorous, culturally relevant, English Language Arts, Spanish Language Arts, and Dual Language curriculum in schools across the country. With a commitment to promoting diverse texts and supporting students of all backgrounds and abilities, Inquiry By Design is dedicated to transforming education and fostering a lifelong love for learning. For more information, visit www.inquirybydeisgn.com.
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Contact Information
For more information about this press release or Inquiry By Design, please contact:
Dean Guzman (he/him)
Director of Sales and Marketing
Inquiry By Design
(310) 923-5164
dean@inquirybydesign.com